A huge thanks to Anne over at randomthingstours, the publisher, Transworld and the author for the invite onto the tour and for the ARC for review.

Before I share my thoughts, here’s what the official blurb

Look around you. Who holds the most power in the room? Is it the one who speaks loudest, who looks the part, who has the most money, who commands the most respect? Or perhaps it’s someone like Christine Butcher: a meek, overlooked figure, who silently bears witness as information is shared and secrets are whispered. Someone who quietly, perhaps even unwittingly, gathers together knowledge of the people she’s there to serve – the ones who don’t notice her, the ones who consider themselves to be important. There’s a fine line between loyalty and betrayal. And when someone like Christine Butcher is pushed to her limit, she might just become the most dangerous person in the room . . .

My thoughts:

Oh now, this was a deliciously delightful dark read. Subtly dripping with menace there was a real sense of unease from the outset. Reading it I almost felt as though I had stepped back in time despite the fact that it is set in 2012. It might be darkly old fashioned but not any less chilling for that.

Narrated in the first person Christine takes us on a journey of her life with Mina. We are very much aware that all is not well with Christine at this time but we are not quite sure what or why until the author unwraps each little secret tantalisingly in front of us drawing us in closer and closer. It was sad to watch her life disintegrate before us, watching as work consumes and suffocated her life and all that was precious about it. She was indeed the secretary who seen and heard all yet said nothing at all.

Mina was the rich boss who believed that she can revamp people to suit her in the same way she’d revamp a business that didn’t meet her needs. She was a fantastic and fascinating character to read. She was one of those characters we all love to hate yet are obsessed with reading about them!

A cast of well-drawn characters play out their sorry tales in this suspenseful and slightly creepy domestic thriller. It isn’t a fast-paced read and is perfect for those who love to get to know and understand their characters. Intense and ever so slightly unhinged it was hard to like either Mina or Christine but this is what makes it so deliciously dark. We have two extremely different characters each of whom bring something a little different to the story but the reader is left wondering which one they should dislike more. Plenty of twists and turns as the story unravels and one that leaves you feeling slightly uncomfortable by the end! This one definitely got under my skin!

Renée Knight worked as a documentary-maker for the BBC before turning to writing. She is a graduate of the Faber Academy ‘Writing a Novel’ course, and lives in London with her husband and two children. Her widely acclaimed debut novel, Disclaimer, was a Sunday Times No.1 bestseller. The Secretary is her second novel.

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Published by chapterinmylife

Hi my name is Sharon and I have an obsession - it's reading! My preferred genre is crime/thriller/police procedural with a penchant for Tartan Noir.
This is my blog for my book reviews and I would love to connect with other like minded readers and authors. I'm happy to feature interviews on my blog, review ARCs (kindle and hard copies)
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